We were meeting Kelli and Jenni's families at Montezuma. We went to the well and they were at the castle. Turns out they are not at the same place. We took advantage at being at the well and hiked to view the history.
Behind mom and dad above is this little abode. It is hard to imagine raising a family in this dwelling set in the hillside. I freak out with the kids on flat surfaces I can't imagine that worry.
This little lake has water that comes from below if I remember correctly. Formed long ago by the collapse of a limestone cavern, over one million gallons of water a day flows continuously into the Well. It is called Montezuma's Well, but Montezuma was never anywhere near it. Some explorer misnamed it, not knowing it was the Sinagua people.
We left the cave and met with the families at Montezuma's Castle.
What fun. Tyler introduced us to the many wonders of Oreo cookies. Besides it deliciousness you can also play games with them. Put an Oreo on your forehead and with only your facial twitches move it to your mouth. I saw Tyler achieve this twice, of course I saw it hit the ground many times.
Sherry, always a good sport, gave it a try. It may look like she succeeded, but alas no. It flipped off her tongue onto the sanitary picnic bench.
This is perched up on the hillside, which again gives me shudders imagining raising a family in a hillside dwelling like these.
They used to let visitors climb some rickety ladders to go into the ruins, but the travelers damaged them too much and the park rangers have not let people go into them since the 1950's.
It was very impressive to see what people can do with their resources.
Photo-op time.
Junior Ranger and his sidekick. Carter was very funny running around the station and then pushing himself back against this mural ready for his photo moment.
A morning full of hot sun over one hundred degrees and lots of walking leads to a bench full of dehydrated exhausted travelers.
